Panaji (Goa) The environmental audit of the industrial units and iron ore mining leases to assess the sustainable operation practices it has adopted is on card of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB).

The GSPCB has introduced draft notification on the Environment Audit Scheme under Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act 1974 and Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act 1981, following directions from the Union Ministry for Environment.

 The draft notification applies to every firm or individual for carrying on an industry, operation or process requiring Consent to Operate under Water and Air Act and Hazardous waste (management and handling) Rules 1989.

The Board will have to constitute Environment Audit Committee under its chairman and has to empanel auditor for undertaking the environmental audit assessing the extent to which these units are observing practices to minimize harm to the environment.

Failing to meet with the conditions laid down under the Consent to Operate, leading to environmental issue, the industries will be liable for action in form of closer.

The audit will be undertaken based on the industrial categorization that is red, orange and green.

The audit will be based on monitoring of resources such as water, fuel, raw material utilization, assessment under Air quality and other Environmental rules.